Criminality and chieftaincy, wow, what a huge issue to talk on!
Recorded cases of crime and chieftaincy disputes, over the years, will send you sprawling to the ground. There's continuous murder and theft on the streets, armed robbers attacking and killing residents at night. On the other hand, we find those who have been “enstooled or enskinned” to develop and protect their communities, selling lands to people and also arming some young men called “land- guards,” to resist legitimate land owners- seeing them as intruders and whose death, if need be, shouldn’t be a worry. But, because this extremes are often difficult to eradicate, we see, hear and feel fear and insecurity at workplace, at home, on the street, or when purchasing a land.
Land- guards are young men who can channel their energies into productive ventures instead of risking their lives all in the name of property protection. Interestingly, some or perhaps all of them, have kind of strange power backing them. They’re often taken to alcohol, are heavy smokers, and make weird incantations when confronted. They’re armed with sharp machetes and guns, have strong physique with often fierce faces that will show no mercy to whoever they consider a threat or an imposter.
The media in Ghana sometimes report grave clashes between land- guards and other factions, undoubtedly, fighters of legitimate land owners. A broadcast or published story present gory picture of blood-lettings, beheading, and all sort of inhuman, barbaric acts which often dispirits security personnel to engage them in combat.
The “Alavanyo” and “Nkonya” chieftaincy dispute speaks volume. These are two communities fighting each other over “who owns this land.” In areas where “galamsey” operations take place, some chiefs deny knowledge of their dealings. Also, when lands are sold to people, there are some chiefs who vehemently oppose the charge that they’re responsible for the sale. These happenings get me puzzled and so, I feel that whenever issues of this nature comes up, chiefs must be interrogated, convicted and jailed, when found guilty.
Ghanaians desire to live in a society devoid of crime and threat from land- guards. I get irritated by the very name, “land- guard.” I ask: is the land for them?
Chiefs from now on must be more responsible to restrain from selling and giving lands to several people at a time. We can build schools, hospitals, markets, recreational centres on such lands instead of fighting, which only leads to deaths and deformity of innocent and hard- spirited land- guards.
There is great hope and also a great fear. Land- guards have great abilities and they must value the worth of their lives. They should learn to resist those who persuade them. Chiefs should also live exemplary lives. Then and only then can my sobbing soul and mind, have a sound rest- from a restless campaign to end crimes, chieftaincy disputes and land- guard rebellions. So mote it be!
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